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Chapter 16 - Friends?

The cool night air swirled between us, carrying the faint scent of blooming flowers and the distant hum of the city. Her teasing voice broke through the quiet.

"Why do you look like you're about to melt?" she asked with a sly smile, her tone laced with playful curiosity. She leaned in slightly, her face now closer, her shimmering eyes reflecting the starry night sky. The way her smile lit up her face made my heart stumble—a sight I had never witnessed in her before.

"Am I the reason?" she pressed, her laughter soft but disarming, her voice playful yet oddly tender.

I tried to avert my gaze, but her presence drew me back like gravity. She noticed my silence and gasped dramatically, her giggle light and melodic. "Oh my gosh. It is me!"

A barely audible whisper escaped my lips before I could stop it. "She's cute like this."

Her eyes widened as she caught the faint murmur, her teasing expression shifting into genuine surprise. "Wait… what did you just say?"

"N-nothing," I stammered, desperately leaning onto the railing to mask my embarrassment. The cool metal against my palms was a lifeline against the heat rising to my face.

She leaned beside me, her teasing tone giving way to something softer, more sincere. "So, why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?" I asked, still avoiding her gaze.

"This work," she clarified, her voice steady now, tinged with genuine curiosity. "What's in it for you?"

I hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of her question. "Why don't you go first?"

She let out a small sigh and turned her eyes to the horizon, her expression momentarily distant. "There are two reasons, actually. First… I want to change this city. It's drowning in crime and corruption. Sure, there are moments when I wonder if I'm any better than the people I'm fighting, but knowing they won't get away with it keeps me going. It's like… if I don't do it, who will?"

"Chivalrous of you," I said with a faint smile, trying to lighten the moment.

She chuckled softly. "And the second reason… well, it's selfish, I guess. I need the money. It's just me now. My grandma, the person who raised me, is in the hospital, and I need every bit of financial help I can get for her—and for me."

Her voice wavered, and she tilted her head skyward, as if to stop a tear from falling.

I reached out instinctively, resting a hand on her shoulder. "That's not selfish—it's noble. Honestly, if I were in your shoes, I'd do the same."

She smiled faintly at my words, a fragile gratitude flickering in her eyes, and then turned the question back to me. "And what about you?"

I let my gaze drift to the glowing moon, struggling to find the right words. With a deep exhale, I removed my hand from her shoulder and shoved it into my pocket. "That's the thing," I admitted, my voice low. "I don't even know why I'm doing this. Maybe it's the money… maybe it's the debts I need to clear. Desperation, I guess. It's not exactly heroic."

She stepped closer, her hand lightly resting on my back. Her touch was warm, grounding, and surprisingly comforting. "It's okay," she said gently. "Whatever your reasons are, I can tell there's good in what you're doing. Just remember the people you're helping—that's what matters."

Her words hung in the air for a moment, and I found myself wishing I could believe them as easily as she seemed to. "Speaking of people I help," I said, trying to shift the mood, "do you know who the 'Princess' is?"

She shrugged lightly, her brow furrowing in thought. "I've heard the name here and there from the guy who assigns me missions, but that's it. I don't even know if she's real."

"Figures," I muttered, then asked, "By the way, how do you even manage to change into your suit during school hours?"

Her laugh bubbled up again, soft and genuine. "I wear it under my clothes most of the time—it's so slim, I hardly notice. But if I'm wearing something more… open, I just pack it. It's a whole system," she said with a wink, her mischievous smile briefly returning.

The humor faded slightly as she glanced at her watch. "Speaking of school… it's late. I'd better get some sleep."

Before I could respond, she swung effortlessly back to her balcony, the move so fluid it was as though she'd done it a hundred times. As she reached her glass door, she paused and turned to look at me, her expression unexpectedly tender.

"It was nice to talk to someone like you," she said softly, her smile warm and lingering, as though she meant every word.

I watched her step inside, her silhouette briefly illuminated by the light from her room. She glanced back once more, her gaze locking with mine for a beat longer than necessary, before she disappeared behind the door.

"Goodnight," I whispered to the empty space between our balconies, the faint scent of her still lingering in the air.

Left alone with the stars and her parting words, I leaned back against the railing, my thoughts a mix of wonder and unease. For the first time in a long time, the weight of the world felt a little lighter. And as I turned to leave, I realized her smile had done something I wasn't expecting—it had made me want to see her again, to keep talking, to learn more about her.

It was a dangerous thought, but one I couldn't seem to shake as I finally retired to bed, her laughter echoing softly in my mind.